Organic compounds and mineral elements as supplements for the development of mint seedlings

Abstract

Genus Mentha includes plants employed by the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries, multiplied by vegetal propagation. In fact, these plants produce a high percentage of sterile seeds. The performance of different concentrations of organic compounds and of minerals nitrogen and boron in the development of mint seedlings produced by cuttings is evaluated. Cuttings were made by the median section of the branch, 10 cm in length and three to four knots. Treatments comprised two liquid commercial formulations, soluble in water: the first contained organic carbon and used with doses 0; 0.025; 0.05; 0.10%; the second contained nitrogen and boron, with doses 0; 0.03; 0.06; and 0.12%. Control contained distilled water. Experimental design was totally randomized, with factorial scheme 2 x 4 (formulations and doses), with four replications of seven cuttings for each treatment. Number of leaves, buds, height of aerial part, length of the largest root, biomass of fresh and dry material of the aerial part and of root system were evaluated. Data underwent analysis of variance and means grouped by Scott-Knott test at 5%. Effects of doses of each formulation underwent analysis of regression. Addition to substrate of nitrogen and boron at concentrations 0.03% and 0.06%, immediately after cutting, may be recommended to stimulate the expansion of the volume of the root system and the development of the aerial part, with the production of mint seedlings with satisfactory commercial quality.